I had a little rock gouge in the keel a few years ago. The yard filled and bottom painted - a year later it needed repair again. I ground it out smooth, filled with West mixed with fairing. Then I covered with 2-part Interlux epoxy barrier before bottom painting. Three years later it's still perfectly smooth and coated with bottom paint.

I would like to add my 2 cents to the subject. If any portions of the keel is flaking off or loose then grind down to bare metal and follow west epoxy instructions for applying their product to the keel. Quick summary, once down to bare metal wash immediately with acetone and apply unthickened epoxy to the metal and work in with a wire brush. While this coating is still green, set off but not cured, apply fairing compound. Use epoxy thickened with micro balloons. Its just a powder that thickens the epoxy into a paste that is easily sanded smooth. Then you can apply a barrier coat.
I had great success with this method on a sabre 34. Portions of the keel had failing fairing, instead of spot repairing I took her completely down to bare metal. 6 years later when I sold her the keel still looked great.

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